Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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172. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures in place to support small businesses in transitioning to using renewable sources of energy. [62621/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, through schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides various supports to small businesses which can assist these enterprises in increasing their energy efficiency and lowering their carbon emissions.

Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA),

The SSEA was launched in July 2021 and provides support up to a maximum of €2,000 per business site (max. of 3 sites) to cover the costs of a typical energy audit. The scheme provides support for SMEs to carry out energy audits and therefore encourage them to implement the energy saving measures identified. It is open to all public and private sector organisations that have an annual energy expenditure of €10,000 or more and are not already required to carry out an energy audit under the Energy Efficiency Directive.

There has been significant uptake of support to businesses through the scheme since its launch.

Business Energy Upgrades Scheme (BEUS)

The BEUS opened for applications in late 2024 and is targeted at providing a tailored pathway for SMEs to support retrofit activity, following their participation in existing education and audit supports. This capital support will be focussed on high impact optimisation and control opportunities in existing buildings to reduce demand, with targeted support for retrofit measures and heat pump adoption. The proposed support is twofold; support for technical assistance (optimisation of existing HVAC systems, building renovation passports, and RES-H design activities) and capital support (commoditised grants for a menu of measures). It was built on the IT platform the SEAI have for the microgeneration grant, which means a single online application and payment process, and instant approval for grant funding.

There are a broad range of enterprise supports available that assist businesses with energy and climate initiatives, with funding from a variety of sources (not just the SEAI). Further information on the broader supports can be found on the “Climate Toolkit for Business” website:

www.climatetoolkit4business.gov.ie/next-steps-and-further-information/.